Gulzar cuts short visit to Pak, says nothing political

Poet and lyricist Gulzar, and film maker Vishal Bhardwaj, who went to Pakistan on Monday, cut short their visit and returned to India on Wednesday.

Although there were reports in Pakistani media that Gulzar had been 'advised' to return in the wake of Afzal Guru's hanging, a statement from Bhardwaj's office said there was no political or security reason behind their decision.

Media reports had indicated that the Indian High Commission advised the poet to return to India.

Gulzar had gone to Pakistan to record a qawwali by Meher Ali and Sher Ali for Bhardwaj's film Dedh Ishqiya and was also expected to attend the Karachi Literature Festival.

Bhardwaj said the poet had cut short his visit after being emotionally overcome by a visit to his ancestral village of Kalra near Dina in Punjab province.

"Gulzar sahab visited the grave of his mentor, eminent poet Ahmed Nadeem Qasimi. After that, he visited his birthplace at Dina after 70 years. He was emotionally overwhelmed and felt uncomfortable after returning to his hotel in Lahore."

Immediately after crossing over to India via the Attari border road route, the group took a flight to Delhi.